Addition to knowledge base: No sound when playing Bioshock with Realtek onboard sound

[2K Elizabeth]

thanks to some of our awesome 2K forum helpers, there is a new addition to the knowledgebase that should help a lot of you:

In some cases you may encounter stuttering sound or no sound at all when playing Bioshock with a combination of Windows Vista and Realtek onboard sound. To ensure the best possible sound performance from your system when playing Bioshock, please follow the steps below:

- Ensure you are running the latest Realtek drivers, these can be downloaded from Realtek directly via Realtek. Alternatively your motherboard manufacturer will also be able to provide up to date drivers.

Note: If you are encountering any other issues with your sound or if you are in doubt as to what software you need then please contact your motherboard manufacturer prior to installing any driver software.

- Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.


http://support.take2games.com/cgi-bi...i=&p_topview=1

[Ferral]

Seems to be working for me on Vista 64bit, still get the stuttering on the loading screen but ingame it is working fine. Also cleared up the texture problem I was getting so it must have been some sort of knock on effect on the games performance.

On Vista 64 bit it is not actually called stereo mixing, it is known as CD Audio and is under the record tab.

[TheSimpleSimon]

I`ve got Vista 64 too and I do have stereo mix and cd audio on mine.I`ve just tried turning off stereo mix and turning on CD audio and that does work as well!I surpose it`s best to have both on.

[jdlegs]

Thanks Elizabeth that fix worked and I now have in game sound...

[F.E.A.R.]

Hi Elizabeth,

How can I fix this problem in Windows XP SP2?

I'm getting the same stuttering glitches on the audio and I've tried every possible fix your company and other users have suggested (including tweaking the default.ini, audio acceleration settings, audio latency settings, directx, running in win2000 compatibility mode etc, etc) and non of them work for me.

I know it is not a problem with FMOD's audio platform. Crysis:Warhead uses the same engine and it's flawless on my system.

I've tried the onboard soundcard (Realtek HD) and I also have an RME Hammerfall DSP Multiface sound card (used for my music production) which is capable of handling even the most extreme audio demands (24bit, up to 192KHz playback, 200+ audio tracks, etc, etc). My PC is fine, trust me.

All my graphics, sound, windows software/drivers are up to date.

So, please kindly let me know if you have a solution for Win XP users.

Thanks,

Mike.

[F.E.A.R.]

*BUMP*

2K Elizabeth, did you see my post? or the emails i sent to you?

Need some kind of response from the company on this please...

Thanks.

[t0nedude]

That's strange I posted this info in it's own topic 1 week ago (it was still on page 2 of this forum)

This is a repost:

Realtek onboard audio and Vista....a solution.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,

I have seen this tip posted here before (usually very hidden and scattered), but I thought it was important enough to have its own post in full display, within easy reach.

My problem:
I have no sound in Bioshock in Vista (32bit) from the menu screen onwards, I fixed it originally by the tip in the sticky to change compatibility mode to XP SP2 on the shortcut. It worked, but had the unfortunate side effect of making the game randomly crash on the menu screen, until I forced -dx9 on the shortcut as well.

So my choices were DX9 with sound OR DX10 with NO sound, and I had been struggling with this problem for days (pulling my hair out) until I read this little gem of a tip on another forum:


Quote:
"Then followed these instructions.

Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.

And now all is sorted and working perfectly."

This worked a treat, now I am enjoying Bioshock @1920x1200 at max in DX10 with full sound, runs like butter.

I don't claim that it will work for everyone, but give it a go if you haven't already. It should be the first thing you try if you have hardware/software combo in the thread heading.

Make sure you remember to turn OFF all compatibility modes on your shortcut to get DX10, and delete all command line additions just in case.

Hope this helps someone,

Tony.

[F.E.A.R.]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the post, I'm sure it will help some people. Unfortunately I'm having problems on XP, not Vista.

Anybody know of a fix with audio problems on XP? See above for more details on my prob...

Cheers.

[ausraider]

Important for guys on Win7 with Realtek who can't find the enable stereo mix option.

Well, I finally got it workin' on my new system with the stereo mix fix,
But I was seconds from giving up because I couldn't find the stereo mixing option - the (Classic View) pointer above threw me abit.

My System is:
Intel Quad Core
OS: Win 7
nVidia 8600
2GIG Ram.

I'm so delighted it runs now - I bought the game about 2 years ago on Steam
but my old system could barely handle it at min settings.
However I stuttered thru the first part, so I KNOW this game is unplayable without the sound fully working - as you miss all the great acting, atmosphere etc.Truely - the voice acting is Top Notch.
"You promised me 'pretty Stienman - pretty, now look at me , LOOK AT ME!!!! SCREAMMMM!!!!'
That one sent shivers down my spine for sure!
So, no sound - don't even bother.

Anyway, I went thru the sound options for my Realtek Onboard a few times a few different ways, but couldn't find the Stereo Mix option - so I assumed I didn't have it.
This was over a period of a few weeks - but tonight I thought I'd give it another try - and I thank-Full I discovered it.
New to win7 , and it takes abit of getting used to as things are laid out a bit differently from the realtek panel in XP.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
So for anybody whos stuck finding the Enable Stereo Mixing option,
Here is a step by step for WIN7 (non-classic)

1:
Click the start button bottom left, then the Control Panel button to open the control panel.

2:
Look for the icon (usually a greyish speaker) named SOUND, and click it.
Your presented with a small window entitled Sound, with 4 Tabs named:

Playback ¦ Recording ¦ Sounds ¦ Communications

across the top.

3:
Select the Recording Tab - and you may be shown only Microphone icon and Line In -
with small grey print saying Not Connected.

4:
This is the bit where you discover Win7 has kinda tricked ya.
In the Recording Tab, If you Right Click anywhere on the white window pane below any displayed
icons - you will be presented with a choice of options:

Show Disabled Devices
Show Disconnected Divices

Tick both of these and Presto! , the mysterious Stereo Mix icon suddenly appears - presumably as disabled.

5:
RightClick on the Stereo Mix icon, and from the options tick Enable.
It should the appear nice and bright with a lovely green tickmark beside it.

6:
Hit OK - and thats it! Your all set.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry if this annoys some people, but I had all but given up on getting Bio to work on my new system.
I even re-downloaded and re-installed it twice! -
thanks to Win7 default secrecy on the RealTek panel - lol.

regards
Ausser.

PS:
Many Thanks for the initial pointers on the problem Liz.

[ausraider]

Double post sry.

[ausraider]

Dbl Post sry.

[Gregory]

That's why I'm with Xbox 360.

[jakatomisk]

I am running vista 64bit and have tried the fix above, but there is no sound mixer in that option. I have tried looking for it in all the sound options and yet to find it.

Any ideas would be very helpful now.

[Netherwind]

Stereo Mix only shows up if you install the Realtek drivers.
Windows own drivers dont have this option enabled.

[MexMeRcUrY]

thanks to some of our awesome 2K forum helpers, there is a new addition to the knowledgebase that should help a lot of you:

In some cases you may encounter stuttering sound or no sound at all when playing Bioshock with a combination of Windows Vista and Realtek onboard sound. To ensure the best possible sound performance from your system when playing Bioshock, please follow the steps below:

- Ensure you are running the latest Realtek drivers, these can be downloaded from Realtek directly via Realtek. Alternatively your motherboard manufacturer will also be able to provide up to date drivers.

Note: If you are encountering any other issues with your sound or if you are in doubt as to what software you need then please contact your motherboard manufacturer prior to installing any driver software.

- Enable Stereo mixing, to do this browse to Start > Control Panel > Sound (in classic view). Once done switch to the Recording tab which will show the currently active inputs on your system (e.g. Line in, Microphone). Right click in the clear space below these devices and select the option for Show disabled devices. This should show an additional device called Stereo mixing, right click on this device and select Enable.


http://support.take2games.com/cgi-bi...i=&p_topview=1

I had the same problem, bioshock.exe crahes, I changed my Default.ini to AudioDevice=D3DDrv.D3DAudioDevice and worked but with no sound in-game, I have a realtek too in windowz 7 and the steps above WORKED!!!!! THANKS!

Operating System
MS Windows 7 64-bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 965 45 °C
Deneb 45nm Technology
Motherboard
ECS A790GXM-AD3 (CPU 1)
Graphics
SyncMaster @ 1600x1200
512MB GeForce 9400 GT (ZOTAC International) 49 °C
ForceWare version 257.21
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio


by the way.. I don't know what windows update or steam update or what the )(/&%$# made this because it was working just fine a week before....